Latch.



G. G. FREDERICK.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. 1910.

983,43 2.- Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

attomcq'a GEORGE Gr. FREDERICK, OF GAS CITY, INDIANA.

Application filed September 9, 1910.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. '7, 1911.

Serial No. 581,178.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE Gr. FREDERICK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Gas City, in the county of Grant, State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to latches and particularly to that type utilizedto secure doors in closed position.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of a latch of thecharacter named which is adapted to automatically hold a door in closedposition against the influence of ordinary forces such as jarring andwind but which will readily release the door to opened position when agiven force is applied to the latter in the direction in which it opens.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thedetails of construction in the arrangement and combination of parts tobe hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts in the several views, and in which-- Figure 1, is adetail fragmental perspective view of a door jamb and door frame showingthe improved latch associated therewith and in locked position; Fig. 2,a side elevation of what is shown in Fig. 1. with the door frameslightly opened and the bail carried thereby about to become disengagedfrom the latch; and Fig. 3, a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings A indicates the door jamb and B the doorframe. Mounted upon the door jamb A is a base plate 10 provided with anintermediate dished portion 11 extending transversely of the door jambA. Formed on the outer face of the base plate 10 at one end of thedished por tion 11 is a lug 12 and a latch 13 is pivotally connected tosaid base plate and has its inner edge disposed adjacent the other endof the dished portion 11. The inner edge of this latch 13 is providedwith a stud 1 1 which partially overlies the dished portion 11 and aspring 15 is disposed in said dished portion and has one end extendingaround the stud 1 1 and bearing against the inner edge of the latch 13while its other end bears against the lug 12 which latter is providedwith a stud 16 around which the spring 15 extends. The upper end of thelatch 13 is rounded as at 17 and just inward of this rounded portion isformed a recess 18. EX- tending laterally from the latch 13 at thejunction between its outer and top edges is a finger 19 and a hook 20adapted to engage said finger 19 is pivoted upon the base plate 10.Movement of the latch 13 under the influence of the spring 15 isprevented beyond certain limits by means of a lug 21 projecting from thebase plate 10.

Secured to the door frame B is a U-shaped bail 22 formed preferably of asingle piece of resilient wire. As the door is being closed this bail isdisposed beneath the upper edge of the latch 13 until the bightportionof the bail passes into engagement with the curved edge 17. The bailwill then ride over this curved edge and its bight portion will seat inthe recess 18 and thereby lock the door against opening under ordinaryconditions. However, should suilicient force be applied to the doorframe B the latch 13 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 2against the influence of the spring 15 and the bail thus disengaged fromthe latch. The door frame B is positively locked against movement toopen position by moving the hook 20 into engagement with the finger 19.

What is claimed is:

1. In a latch, the combination of a base plate adapted for attachment toa door jamb, a latch pivoted to the plate and having its upper endprovided with a recess, spring actuated means constantly tending to movesaid latch to locked position, a bail provided with means for attachmentto a door frame and adapted to ride over the upper end of said latch andseat in the recess therein, and means for securing said latch againstmovement to unlocked position.

2. In a latch, the combination of a base plate adapted for attachment toa door jamb, a latch pivoted to the base plate and having its upper endprovided with a recess, a laterally projecting finger on the upper endof said latch, spring actuated the latch whereby the latter is securedmeans constantly tending to move said latch against movement to unlockedposition. 11 to locked position, a bail provided with In testimonywhereof, I uflix my signameans for attachment to a door frame and ture,in presence of two Witnesses.

adapted to ride over the upper end of said GEORGE G. F REDERICK. latchand seat in the recess therein, and a l Vitnesses: hook mounted on thebase plate and adapted I WILL C. J AY,

to engage the laterally projecting finger on L, H. CONLEY.

